BCE 64 Salicylate Poisoning

In this EM Cases Best Case Ever Hans Rosenberg and Rajiv Thavanathan discuss recognition and management pearls and pitfalls in salicylate poisoning. They answer question such as: What are the most important diagnostic clues of salicylate poisoning in the patient who presents with undifferentiated fever and altered level of awareness? What is the best timing and ventilation strategy for intubation? Which electrolyte abnormalities do you need to be on the lookout for? and many more... Podcast production, editing and sound design by Rajiv Thavanathan & Richard Hoang Blog post by Anton Helman, December 2017 This case first appeared at Case Reports in Critical Care Volume 2017 Salicylate poisoning diagnostic clues: It's easy to miss! Clues on presentation. Salicylate poisoning is easy to miss because early in the illness course it can present in a fairly benign manner. Without a clear history of ingestion, salicylate poisoning may be initially misdiagnosed as pneumonia, sepsis or DKA because of the overlapping features. While the seldom seen classic triad is hyperventilation, tinnitus and GI upset, salicylate poisoning clinical features also include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, deafness, flushed skin, sweating, hyperthermia, altered level of awareness, pulmonary edema and cardiovascular instability. Often the key clue is an elevated respiratory rate without an obvious primary respiratory cause and a normal oxygen saturation; a result of the patient's effort to blow off CO2. ECG clues. ECG clues of salicylate poisoning include a widened QRS and AV block that can lead to ventricular dysrhythmias. The blood gas isn't always the classic mixed respiratory and anion gap metabolic acidosis. In high anion gap metabolic acidosis, the change in the anion gap should approximate the change in serum bicarbonate. Absence of this relationship should prompt consideration of a mixed metabolic acid-base disorder. Usually the blood gas shows a classic mixed respiratory alkalosis and anion gap metabolic acidosis, but there are exceptions.  VBGs are adequate - you don't need an ABG. The worse the acidosis the worse the outcome. A normal anion gap does not rule out salicylate poisoning Use the GOLDMARK mnemonic for anion gap metabolic acidosis differential diagnosis. Download PDF of GOLDMARK mnemonic Salicylate levels may be low or undetectable. Chronic salicylate toxicity can occur at much lower levels than acute toxicity. Do not rely entirely on serum levels to make treatment decisions. Levels may be undetectable early after ingestion. Best Case Ever on Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis GOLDMARK mnemonic Treatment of salicylate poisoning Make phone calls. Get your toxicology and nephrology colleagues involved early. Consult your poison control center even for apparently minor cases. Fluid resuscitate. These patients are almost always dry. Fluid resuscitate to a goal of 3 cc/kg/hr urine output, but be careful to avoid fluid overload. GI decontamination. Consider activated charcoal in alert patients with ingestion within 4 hours or massive overdose after intubation. Whole bowel irrigation is controversial and should be discussed with your poison control center. Correct electrolyte imbalances before intubation. Hypokalemia is common. Standard RSI can kill these patients. Give sodium bicarbonate boluses in the peri-intubation period and maintain a high minute v...